What Happened to Gabby Petito, Who Died at 22? — New Details Emerge
The young woman was ready to kick off her career as a content creator, but everything changed when tragedy struck. A new docuseries is now revealing the details of how her life took a sudden turn.
Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old YouTuber, tragically lost her life at the hands of her fiancé, 23-year-old Brian Laundrie. The Netflix docuseries “American Murder: Gabby Petito,” takes a deep dive into her life, shedding light on the events leading up to her heartbreaking fate, including that of her lover.
The docuseries not only delves into Gabby’s life but also explores her relationship with Brian, tracing their connection back to their teenage years.
Gabby Petito pictured on the documentary | Source: YouTube/Netflix
In March 2019, Gabby, then 20, began dating Brian, a familiar face from high school. At first, she kept their relationship quiet, but when she finally shared it with loved ones, it was clear they were already deeply committed.
By December — nine months into their romance — they left her New York hometown and moved to Florida to be near Brian’s family. Although she initially got along with his mother, Roberta, tensions between them reportedly grew over time.
Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito seen during the documentary | Source: YouTube/Netflix
As their relationship progressed, Gabby and Brian took the next step in their commitment to each other. In July 2020, after more than a year together, Gabby shared news of their engagement.
Though Brian didn’t propose with a ring, they saw the moment as meaningful. Instead of focusing on wedding plans, they decided to buy a van and explore the country. Gabby hoped to turn their travels into a career as a #vanlife vlogger.
With their engagement set, the couple set off on their adventure, eager to embrace life on the road. After visiting Gabby’s family, they set off on their trip. In August 2021, witnesses in Moab, Utah, reported a domestic dispute, prompting police to step in.
A 911- caller could be heard saying on the documentary, “I’d like to report a domestic dispute. The gentleman was slapping the girl.”
Gabby Petito seen following the altercation with Brian Laundrie | Source: YouTube/Netflix
After questioning them separately, officers deemed Gabby the aggressor and arranged for Brian to stay in a motel. Soon after, he returned to Florida to empty a storage unit before reuniting with Gabby.
Their relationship grew more strained that month, and Gabby confided in an ex-boyfriend, Jackson, hinting at a falling out with Brian. She suggested she wanted to leave but, according to Jackson, wasn’t sure “how” to do it.
In the docuseries, he revealed she feared Brian’s reaction, “She wasn’t sure of what he would do, or what he could do.” Days later, Gabby messaged Jackson again on Snapchat from Wyoming, saying she was thinking of him.
She called later, but he was at work. That day, surveillance captured her walking through a Whole Foods in Jackson, Wyoming, with Brian — the last known video of her.
As Gabby reached out for support, Brian was moving through Wyoming, his actions later traced through phone records and witness accounts. On August 28, he left the Spread Creek campsite for Colter Bay Village, taking photos and calling his mother for an hour.
The next day, he hitchhiked toward Jackson, Wyoming. A woman named Miranda Baker picked him up, and another named Norma Jean Jalovec later drove him back to Spread Creek, where he said Gabby was waiting.
Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito in the documentary | Source: YouTube/Netflix
As Brian made his way back to Florida alone, suspicious activity on Gabby’s accounts and phone raised alarm. On August 30, he drove home, using Gabby’s debit card for gas and transferring $700 from her account with a memo stating, “Goodbye Brian, I’ll never ask you for anything again.”
Concerned by the unusual message and unable to reach Gabby, Nichole took action. In early September 2021, she filed a missing persons report with the Suffolk County Police Department.
Authorities in Florida soon discovered Brian had returned home in Gabby’s van without her. The Laundries hired an attorney and refused to cooperate.
The search took police to several locations, including Grand Teton National Park, where Gabby’s phone was last active. Authorities urged the public for leads, prompting a #vanlife blogger to review footage and spot Gabby’s van at Spread Creek.
Three weeks into the search, on September 19, 2021, her body was found. The discovery painted a chilling picture of what had happened in her final moments.
An FBI Special Agent from the Denver division, identified only as Kyle in “American Murder: Gabby Petito,” recalled the moment they found her. “She was laying on her side. She was wrapped up in a sweater,” he revealed. The last confirmed sighting of Gabby alive was on August 27, and she was not found until September 19.
Investigators believed she had stayed near Spread Creek. Kyle described a burn scar in front of her, suggesting an attempted fire, though no materials were found. “Her boots were off and they were next to her body, and next to that fire. She was not laying in a natural position,” he disclosed.
Authorities reached a grim conclusion — Kyle stated, “It appeared to investigators at that time that the crime scene had been staged.” A coroner later confirmed Gabby’s death as a homicide caused by blunt force trauma and manual strangulation.
Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito pictured together | Source: YouTube/Netflix
